This is my belt buckle that my parents proudly gave to me when I qualified as a State Registered Nusre in 1979. The styles and patterns were varied and many had been passed down through the generations.
So much has changed.
There was a time certainly in the UK when you visited hospitals that you knew who was who by what they were wearing. Female nurses would wear caps and their hair would be neat and tidy.
As a ward sister I had a fabric cap that was nicely starched. Our coloured belt would denote what grade we were and the buckle proudly worn once we were qualified.
In the 1990’s the caps and belts were fazed out supposedly to help reduce cross infection and health & safety.
It was a time when we had pride in what we were wearing.
Today it is so different!!! I would like to say better but different is the only word that comes to mind.
Now retired and look back on those years with pride and affection.
Lovely buckle. A, great memory from your past. I was a Customs officer for many years before moving to another job and I regret the fact that I didn't care to keep the gold braided badge on the unform cap. Things have changed, definitely to the worse not in the employees ' abilities or professionalism but in many other aspects.
Terrific photo of this fabulous buckle it has so much history with it. So interesting to read your narrative and have a little bit of insight into who you were
What a lovely accessory - must have looked wonderful on your uniform! My mom was an RN (in Canada) and I remember very clearly going to her cap and pin ceremony when she graduated. She had very long hair and every day it would go up in a tight bun, tucked just behind the cap.
It’s such a shame that this tradition died out. My buckle sits on the last belt that it was attached to, in a drawer! Hats, although they “finished off an outfit, we’re a bit superfluous & mine used to slide down the back of my head! Infection Control - has always been a thing of importance & standards were upheld in our uniforms too! I agree things are different & I would say definitely not better!
A lovely buckle , although in NZ never had these but as for the rest of info yes and yes it’s so very different and some of the changes aren’t for the best loved all my yrs of nursing .
It's a beautiful buckle. I enjoyed reading about the tradition of the belts, not something we did in the States. I, too, had a crisply starched white linen cap with a velvet band "pasted on" with KY Jelly. Didn't wear it for very long after graduating in '74. I agree about the change in uniforms. The colors denote profession or job, but not the same for all institutions, so it's always a guess. Most navy blue are RNs though.
Definitely something to be proud of. They still had coloured belts when I started in the early 90's but the buckles and caps had gone.
I have still kept my hospital pin all these years
Hi Susan, I just heard that the package has arrived safely and will soon be on it's way to me. I am ever so excited and thank you for your friendship :-)
I have still kept my hospital pin all these years